Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that codifies access to contraception by requiring health insurance programs to cover contraception without cost sharing in Pennsylvania.

Highlights:

• Requires state health insurance programs like Medicaid and CHIP to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive care, including drugs, devices, and other products without cost sharing, such as deductibles or copays in Pennsylvania (Sec. 2).

• Defines “cost-sharing” as the sharing of health care costs covered by a government program or health insurance policy that an enrollee or covered individual pays out-of-pocket, including a (Sec. 2):

• Deductible;

• Coinsurance;

• Copayment; or

• Similar charge.

• Exempts premiums which are the balance billed amount from an out-of-network provider or the cost of noncovered services from being included as cost-sharing (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that nothing in this bill shall be construed to require coverage of male condoms or exclude, limit, or prohibit coverage for contraceptive drugs, devices, or other products (Sec. 4).

• Establishes the following penalties for health care providers found to have violated the provisions of this bill, including (Sec. 7):

• Suspension or revocation of their health insurance license for one year upon first violation;

• A fine of $5,000 or more for each unintentional violation of this bill; and

• A fine of $10,000 or more for each willful violation.

• Specifies that no fine to a health insurer may exceed $500,000 in any given calendar year (Sec. 8).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 60 days after passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 12).

Full Bill Text